Page 57 of Dipped in Red

Oh my God.

He nods at me, waiting for me to nod back.

“What the fuck?” I whisper.

“I’m taking you out of here, now.” He grabs me under the arm.

“No. No.” I fling myself out. “He’ll kill us both. Stop it.”

“You underestimate me,” he says.

“Stop,” I beg through a whisper.

“I haven’t heard from you in weeks. I thought the worst, Lesi. I’m not mourning another corpse on my watch.”

“Did you tell your superiors about me?”

He twists his jaw.

“Didn’t think so. So we’re still off the record.” I stare up the stairwell, fearful Leandro will hear us.

“Alessia. Let me take you in. I don’t care if I get fired anymore. I’m calling it in with or without you.”

I grab Arnold’s arm as I picture Gabby being burned alive. In truth, I don’t know Leandro’s full capabilities, but I know something horrible will happen if the shack gets surrounded. “Please don’t. The other women he’s holding will be harmed. Just give me a little more time. Please.”

He hisses and turns away, his trench coat flapping in distain. “In all my years, I never thought it’d come to this.”

“To what, Arnold?”

“I’m three years from pension, and I’m going to blow it all on a woman I fell for on the job.” He snaps his tongue.

My stomach turns at that. I guess I always knew deep down, but hearing it out loud means something else entirely. The lines of worry on his forehead speak to his age, just as much as his balding head. I feel bad for him… just as he probably feels bad for me.

“Look, Arnold. I’m working on them. I just need to convince them to get out of the house at the same time, okay? One of them is being particularly stubborn about it, but she’ll give in eventually. I promise I’ll use the device you gave me. Just give me a month, tops.”

He paces. I can tell he’s stressed about more than just me. Maybe he’s playing hooky on another job – which I imagine is a big deal in the feds’ world. A part of me wants to take his hand and race Leandro back to the shack. Would we be able to get out in time?

No way.

Leandro would hunt us like deer.

“Are you safe, Lesi?”

I hate when he uses his nickname for me. Back then I used to entertain it, but that’s when Joey was my next best option. Now I’m a little creeped out. Imagine? Creeped out by my rescuer and turned on by my napper.

Fuck, this, life.

“I’m safe. He takes us out here and there for fresh air, that’s all.”

“Oh, how kind of him.” Sarcasm drips through his voice, and what was that? Jealousy? Does he know we’re intimate? Maybe he spied me hanging onto his arm without a care in the world earlier. Actually, that makes a lot of sense.

I jump when I hear a door open – then hold my chest when I realize it’s only one floor up.

Arnold reached for his gun.

“Jesus!” I whisper, giving him wide eyes.

He hides it and folds his arms. “This is a huge mistake. Now’s our time. I can call it in.”

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